Threatening event, or probability of occurrence of a potentially damaging phenomenon within a given time period and area. (Source: EM-DAT).
Natural hazards are naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by
rapid or slow onset events which can be geophysical (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity), hydrological (avalanches and floods), climatological (extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires), meteorological (cyclones and storms/wave surges) or biological (disease
epidemics and insect/animal plagues).
Technological or man-made hazards (complex emergencies/conflicts, famine, population movement, industrial accidents and transport accidents) are events that are caused
by humans and occur in human settlementenvironmental
degradation, pollution and accidents.
Hazards can be single, sequential
or combined in their origin and effects.
There are a range of challenges,
such as climate change, unplanned-urbanization, under-development/poverty as well as the threat of pandemics, that will shape humanitarian assistance
in the future. These aggravating factors will result in
increased frequency, complexity and severity of disasters.
Disaster management
